Double Glazing Windows Repairs
Double glazing keeps heat inside your home and stops cold air from venting out, saving you money on energy bills. It also reduces fading to soft furniture, paintings and wood.
Sometimes however, it is necessary to repair a window. Double-glazed windows can be easily fixed by experts in window repair.
Cracked Panes
It's not just an eye-sore cracks in glass, but they can also increase your energy bills due to compromising the insulating properties of your windows. It can also be a safety hazard and allow condensation and moisture. Even small cracks, if not addressed, can continue to increase in size. It is crucial to repair double glazing windows with broken or cracked panes as soon as possible.
Double-paned Windows are designed to provide better insulation from temperatures and cold as compared to standard windows. Double-paned windows create an air gap between the two panes that stops draughts. However, if seals or glass are damaged and the advantages of double-paned windows will be lost. Fortunately double-paned windows remain quite simple to fix.
If your window is cracked The first thing to do is to clean it thoroughly. If your window was subjected to severe winds recently, it might have been blasted with debris such as pebbles or hailstones that caused it to crack. These can be removed with a little water.
You will then need to determine the size and location of the crack. If the crack is only a few centimetres in length then a piece of clear tape can be used to prevent it from becoming worse. For larger cracks, you can make use of an adhesive available in hardware stores for fixing glass. Follow the directions and let the adhesive dry completely.
Another option is to fill in the crack with a type of putty that is specifically designed for glass. There are kits available that include a tool to apply the glue. Others can be rolled into ropes and pressed into the crack. Some of these kits are also suitable for filling glass chips, but be careful not to overfill and cause further damage.
If you have cracks that extend over the frame or if it's an opening in the glass that is insulated It's time to call in an expert. This type of damage requires more complicated repairs and could require replacing the entire pane.
Foggy Panes
You can repair dual pane windows if they're fogging up. Foggy windows may be caused by condensation that forms between the glass panes. This can be fixed by removing the window affected using a humidifier, which will eliminate the moisture, and then reinstalling the window with the new seals. The process is fast inexpensive and efficient.
Although you might be tempted to do the DIY repair work by yourself but this is a job better left to a trained professional. Glass can break or hurt yourself if attempt to remove the fog from double-pane windows without removing them. You will also need specialized tools and may be unable to make a solid seal by drilling holes into the window without having a proper understanding. The result is a window that will struggle to keep itself free from moisture, and the hole you've made will allow dust and other pollutants to get in.
If you try to clean windows with double panes with a wet towel the problem can worsen. If moisture dries out on the window's surface you can clean it off using a damp rag. If, however, the moisture gets in between the panes, it is unable to be removed. The windows that are stained with water can be a sign of broken seals. To repair them, contact a professional.
You can prevent your windows getting foggy by preventing them from fogging up in the first place. Ensure the haze on your windows isn't grease accumulation or fingerprint smudges. You can do this by wiping them down frequently. Make use of fans in rooms that generate lots of steam, like bathrooms and kitchens, to keep air moving. Avoid using humidifiers and only utilize them if you have to.
Double-paned windows that appear to be foggy could be a sign of cracked or worn seals that let moisture in and cause condensation. In most instances, this can be repaired by replacing the window pane, and then resealing it. However, assistance from a professional is still needed to ensure the work is done properly and to your satisfaction.
Leaking Panes
Condensation between the panes of double-glazed windows can be an issue, but it also means that they've lost the gas that helps insulate them. This is due to a broken seal that has to be replaced in order to keep your home dry and warm.
A leaking window isn't just an issue that is annoying, it can also damage the structure of your home, cause mold to develop and result in damp ceilings and walls. You should fix any leaks promptly after you spot them to stop the problem from getting worse.
Contact the company who installed your windows to talk to a representative. You should be able get an idea of the price and what you can do.
If you have an older style of double-glazed windows, it may be easier to repair them using DIY guides online. There are many guides online that will show you how to lubricate handles and hinges aswell in tightening mechanisms or screws that don't work properly. In most cases, this will solve the problem and your windows or doors will be able to open and close.
Caulking can be used to close gaps around your double-glazed windows, particularly around the places when they touch the frames. Be careful not to overfill the gaps. A gap of more than 1/4 inch could allow moisture to enter your home and that's why it's important to consult a professional before adding sealants to your windows.
Many things can cause a window to leak, including gaps in the flashing, or windows that are not fitted correctly. It's also important to have your windows inspected for clogged drainage holes, which could cause water to leak into your home and pool under the sill. It is essential to ensure that your window sill slopes correctly to allow water to drain away from the frame and not under or on top.
Broken Seals
Today's double and triple pane windows come with three or two glass panes separated by air space and sealed around the edges. This type of window is upvc window lock repair near me referred to as an Insulated Glazing Unit (IGU). IGU windows also have an insulative inert gas such as argon or krypton in between the panes to reduce the transfer of heat or cold through the glass. If one or more seals on these windows breaks the gas that is insulative has been released. This will eliminate the insulation benefits.
The seals around windows could be damaged by a variety. This includes natural house settlement, which can result in uneven pressure. The force of the wind, particularly when there's a lot of dust in the air, can also cause damage to the seals. The windows' seals could be damaged by harsh chemicals, such as the ones used to strip paint or extreme temperatures.
When a seal breaks it can result in a variety of problems like draughts not explained, increased energy consumption, and a misted or cloudy window. It's good to know that, in most instances, a damaged window seal can be fixed instead of being replaced.
In order to repair a damaged window seal an expert will need to clean the frame and glass and then take out the IGU and then replace the damaged seal. This is a complex process, so it is essential to hire an expert for this kind of window repair.
If your windows start to appear foggy or you observe unaccounted for drafts, it might be time to repair double glazing. Talk to an installation service in your area to determine if your current windows can be repaired or is it time to consider replacement windows to provide your home with a more energy efficient upgrade.